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Farmyard collections of plastic by the Irish Farm Films Producers Group (IFFPG) are to resume next week and bring centres will resume from the start of July.
Farmyard collections, which were suspended in late March due to increased COVID-19 restrictions, will resume nationwide on Monday 18 May in line with the Government’s lockdown exit strategy, which allows certain outdoor work to resume on that date.
IFFPG contractors will provide the service in strict compliance with social distancing guidelines, with farmers asked to pay by credit card where possible.
The cost to the farmer to avail of a farmyard collection remains at €45 per half tonne (approximately 200 – 250 wraps) this year.
Farmers who require a service should call 1890-300 444 to make a booking and ensure their plastic is accessible to a rigid truck with a hydraulic arm.
Bring centres
IFFPG hopes to be in a position to provide a bring-centre service during the period July to September this year.
It is intended that the usual bring-centre locations will be used in each county in as much as possible, with IFFPG very appreciative to the owners of marts, co-ops and GAA fields for continuing to make their premises available.
In total, it is expected that approximately 230 bring centres will be available, with appropriate social distancing procedures followed at all of them.
The cost to farmers to use bring centres will remain at €20 per half tonne for silage wrap and sheeting waste this year. As usual, IFFPG will also accept netting waste (€5 per half tonne bag), fertiliser/feed bags and agri-chemical drums (all €10 per half tonne bag) at bring-centres.
From June, farmers are advised to visit www.farmplastics.ie to find details (when and where) about their local bring-centre.
30,000t of plastic
If the Government’s lockdown strategy goes to plan, IFFPG expects to once again collect approximately 30,000t of farm plastics waste for recycling this year.
In terms of wrap and sheeting waste, this equates to a 75% recycling rate which is one of the highest in Europe. Collected material is sent for recycling to a range of facilities in Ireland and elsewhere in Europe where it is converted into range of new products, such as refuse sacks, construction film and garden furniture.
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